Military and aerospace circuit board sales outpace sales to other markets, say IPC analysts

BANNOCKBURN, Ill., 22 July 2013. Printed circuit board sales growth to the military and aerospace market continues to outpace sales to other vertical markets in North America, say analysts at IPC - Association Connecting Electronics Industries in Bannockburn, Ill.

Despite cutbacks in the U.S. military budget, cumulative rigid circuit board sales to the military market from January through May this year were up 3.4 percent compared to the same period in 2012, according to IPC's July 2013 issue of North American circuit board Market Report.

Rigid circuit board sales to other markets, meanwhile, were down 9.1 percent year-to-date, IPC analysts say. In the flexible circuit segment, year-to-date growth rates of sales to the military and other markets were positive, but military sales growth was higher.

"We estimate that the military and aerospace market accounts for about 27 percent of the total circuit board market in North America," says Sharon Starr, IPC director of market research.

"Based on new data, IPC is updating its market size estimates for rigid circuit ads, flexible circuits, the mil/aero and medical vertical markets, and the prototype market," Starr says.

The 113-page July 2013 report updates market trends in the North American circuit board industry. Much of the information presented is based on data from IPC's monthly North American circuit board Statistical Program.

For more information contact IPC online at www.ipc.org.